Published in the San Francisco Chronicle
April 19, 2007
Editor -- As The Chronicle pointed out in its April 13 editorial, "Fighting climate change," AB493 (Ruskin) would give California car buyers many excellent choices, including popular SUVs, with no added surcharge -- or even with a rebate. It would not impact large families at all -- unless they intend to try to cram themselves into a souped-up sports car or think a Honda Odyssey or Saturn View is too mild-mannered, and they just have to drive a Hummer.
One of the best features: The disclosure about the surcharge will be right on the car, open and transparent, so consumers will still be free to choose whether they think the added surcharge is worth it or not. Particularly now, when our troops are putting their lives on the line in oil-rich regions, a surcharge on the worst gas-guzzlers is hardly too much to ask.
Rosemary Shahan
President, Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety
Sacramento